Some tight Deccan bowling contributed to a Rajasthan implosion as the Chargers scored a comfortable 53-run victory in Kimberley.

Graeme Smith was the victim of a dubious lbw call but the rest of the Royals’ batsmen were victims of their own stupidity. The pace of the wicket and the quality of the bowling can be credited, but Rajasthan played poor cricket.

It was thanks to Dwayne Smith that Deccan were able to reach a competitive total, as the West Indian blasted 47 runs off 32 deliveries. Australian Andrew Symonds weighed in with 30 off 19.

Swapnil Asnodkar was one of only three Rajasthan batsman to reach double figures, and when he perished so did the Royals’ chance of victory. The final five wickets tumbled for 55 runs as the tailenders tried in vain to keep up with an impossible run-rate.

Rohit Sharma finished with three wickets but the IPL’s top wicket-taker RP Singh and Sri Lankan stalwart Chaminda Vaas also produced miserly displays with the ball.

The result sees Deccan surpassing Rajasthan to claim third position on the IPL log.